NATIONAL REFEREES Committee spokesperson Fr Séamus Gardiner has commended referees for taking advice on the validity of scores.

He was commenting on an incident during Saturday's All-Ireland football quarter-final between Kerry and Galway when Cavan referee Joe McQuillan could be seen listening to his earpiece before awarding a point to Galway's Gareth Bradshaw.

"I was wondering was he asking the linesman for his view of it," he said. "Linesmen don't have the power to allow or disallow scores and it's up to the referee to make that decision but how he reaches it is his own business. Often a linesman can be in a better position to judge and if the referee wants to ask his opinion I would commend that as good refereeing."

Fr Gardiner also revealed that linesmen this year have been encouraged to adopt new positioning during matches.

"In the past five or six weeks we have asked one of them to watch behind the play. The traditional positioning was both in line with the referee but we have suggested that one stay with the referee while the other moves back."

Just a month ago he had pre-empted the recent controversy over the Munster under-21 final by questioning the rule that allows a team a 65 if the opposing goalkeeper steps outside his square when pucking out.

"It's one of those rules I hear people complaining about - the pick-up in football is another - but my view is if it's a rule implement it or else get rid of it. There's no middle ground."

Meanwhile former Armagh and Crossmaglen manager Joe Kernan has expressed sadness at the decision of Oisín McConville to retire from intercounty football in the wake of last Saturday's defeat by Wexford and the manner in which it happened.

"When I saw him waving to his family in the stand when the match was over I felt so sorry for Oisín that he didn't finish off with eight to 10 minutes in Croke Park. I was sad for someone who has been so majestic for both club and county for so long."

McConville had played briefly in last month's Ulster final replay but that was his only appearance this year and his decision to step down ends a career which has featured the scoring record for the Ulster championship, one All-Ireland, one National Football League and seven Ulster medals.